Update: China Unicom Denies Ordering 5M iPhones

By Eric Savitz

A spokesman for the Chinese carrier told the AP that talks between the two companies have been going on for some time, but that no deals have been reached. And he flat out denied the report that the company had agreed to buy $1.46 billion for 5 million phones.

the rumour is that the last rumour was just a rumour to start a rumour about the last rumour.
I guess we will know more at the next love-in AAPL has planned...

AUGUST 14, 2009 7:07 P.M.

Dan Butterfield wrote:

Ah but there's more ... Despite this denial, Zhou Fang, the CBN reporter who broke the story, stands by his report and states that he made audio recordings of the interviews with the Guangdong Unicom executives (Zhou Youmeng and Yu Zaonan) who spilled the beans.

Adding further legitimacy to the original CBN report is a post today (8/14) on Interfax TMT (sourcing another China Unicom insider who validates the 5 million claim) and the news today from a Carrefour source. Chongqing Evening News, quoting a Carrefour employee, states that the iPhone in China deal is a "go" and Carrefour would indeed be part of the distribution plan. The report states that iPhones could be ready to go on sale as early as late August and that Carrefour stores in Guangzhou and other costal areas have begun preparing store displays.

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